The 2013 PokerStars and Monte-Carlo® Casino EPT Grand Final

€100,000 Super High Roller
Day: 1
Event Info

The 2013 PokerStars and Monte-Carlo® Casino EPT Grand Final

Final Results
Winner
Winning Hand
j9
Prize
€1,746,400
Event Info
Buy-in
€98,000
Prize Pool
€4,851,000
Entries
50
Level Info
Level
21
Blinds
50,000 / 100,000
Ante
10,000

Dan Smith Busts; Re-Enters

Level 4 : 1,000/2,000, 300 ante

Dan Smith ran his pocket jacks into the kings of Faraz Jaka to bust but he'll be re-entering after taking a short break.

Smith three-bet an open to 15,000 before Jaka four-bet to 38,000. After the original raiser folded, Smith shoved for 190,000 and was called.|

Smith: {j-Clubs}{j-Clubs}
Jaka: {k-Diamonds}{k-Clubs}

The board ran {k-Hearts}{5-Clubs}{3-Diamonds}{6-Hearts}{a-Spades}making Jaka a set.

Player Chips Progress
Faraz Jaka us
Faraz Jaka
440,000 188,000
Dan Smith us
Dan Smith
Busted

Double For Haxton

Level 3 : 800/1,600, 200 ante

We just caught the end of PokerStars Team Online Isaac Haxton's double up. Haxton was all in with {Q-Clubs}{10-Clubs} versus Timothy Adams' {Q-Spades}{9-Hearts} on a {3-Diamonds}{Q-Hearts}{4-Clubs}{5-Spades} board. The river brought the {8-Diamonds} and Haxton doubled up. After being down to 40,000 chips earlier Haxton is doing quite alright now.

Player Chips Progress
Sam Trickett gb
Sam Trickett
436,600 10,600
Antonio Esfandiari us
Antonio Esfandiari
348,800 -53,300
Paul Newey gb
Paul Newey
281,000 -15,000
Timothy Adams ca
Timothy Adams
194,300 -43,100
Isaac Haxton us
Isaac Haxton
157,200 117,900
Marc-Andre Ladouceur ca
Marc-Andre Ladouceur
134,100 -12,800

Tags: Isaac HaxtonTimothy Adams

Smirnov Back in, Gruissem Wins Some

Level 3 : 800/1,600, 200 ante

Mikhail Smirnov is back in the hunt after he decided to rebuy. Smirnov is already up a bit from his fresh 250,000-chip starting stack but also managed to lose a pot to Faraz Jaka.

Team PokerStars Pro Jason Mercier raised to 4,000 and both blinds called. The flop brought out {6-Hearts}{4-Clubs}{Q-Diamonds} and all three players checked. On the turn the {K-Diamonds} hit and Smirnov checked to Philipp Gruissem who bet 7,000 and only Mercier called. On the river the {9-Hearts} hit and Gruissem won the pot with a 17,000-chip bet.

A few hands later Gruissem raised to 4,500 from the button and Dan Smith three-bet to 16,000 from the small blind. Gruissem four-bet to 38,000 and Smith tank-folded.

Player Chips Progress
Jason Mercier us
Jason Mercier
335,000 38,000
Philipp Gruissem de
Philipp Gruissem
310,000 45,000
Mikhail Smirnov ru
Mikhail Smirnov
264,000 264,000
Faraz Jaka us
Faraz Jaka
252,000 7,000
Dan Smith us
Dan Smith
180,000 -10,000

Tags: Dan SmithFaraz JakaJason MercierMikhail SmirnovPhilipp Gruissem

Hello, Marvin

Level 3 : 800/1,600, 200 ante

Marvin Rettenmaier is also playing this event and he just received a compliment from Team PokerStars Pro Daniel Negreanu. Negreanu pointed out that Rettenmaier is playing at a much higher pace than last year and the German pro responded as following.

"Yeah, but I've also been winning a lot less."

The players at the table had a good laugh while Negreanu managed to steal Rettenmaier's big blind.

Player Chips Progress
Marvin Rettenmaier de
Marvin Rettenmaier
250,000 250,000

Tags: Daniel NegreanuMarvin Rettenmaier

Players: Update Your Stack via the PokerNews My Stack App

Level 3 : 800/1,600, 200 ante

Attention players and fans, if you frequent the PokerNews Live Reporting blog, then you've probably noticed a new tab here at the PokerStars and Monte-Carlo® Casino EPT Grand Final. If you haven't yet, or you're new to our live coverage, then let us be the first to introduce you to the Player Updates tab powered by the PokerNews My Stack app.

You can download the app for iPhone or Android now to get started. Then, create a new PokerNews account or update your current one to start updating your status immediately. Your followers can see all the live action you are involved in.

Many pros have started using My Stack, including Daniel Negreanu, John Juanda, David Vamplew and Marcin Horecki, so start up today and give the fans much more of what they want.

Be forewarned, however, any abuse of the app will result in account suspension or termination.

Tags: Daniel NegreanuDavid VamplewJohn JuandaMarcin HoreckiPokerNews My Stack

Blom Somehow Finds Value

Level 3 : 800/1,600, 200 ante
Viktor Blom
Viktor Blom

Maybe only Viktor Blom could've found value in the hand he played out with Sergii Baranov and Justin Bonomo.

The latter opened to 4,500 from the hijack and was called by Baranov in the next seat before Blom squeezed to 16,500 from the button. Both players made a quick call to see the {2-Hearts}{4-Clubs}{a-Hearts} flop where Blom continued for 18,600. Both players called before all three went on to check the {q-Spades}{q-Clubs} turn and river through.

Blom opened {8-Hearts}{8-Clubs} and both opponents worked.

"Wow!" said Scott seiver. "Good game guys!"

Player Chips Progress
Justin Bonomo us
Justin Bonomo
610,000 -20,000
Viktor Blom se
Viktor Blom
Full Tilt
580,000 30,000
Sergii Baranov ua
Sergii Baranov
120,000 -130,000

Tags: Justin BonomoSergii BaranovViktor Blom

Watson Fills Up Against Quoss' Flopped Straight

Level 3 : 800/1,600, 200 ante

With 27,600 in the middle on the {9-Spades}{8-Diamonds}{7-Diamonds} flop, Mike Watson checked to his opponent, Fabian Quoss. Quoss tossed out a red T25,000 chip, but it was unknown if he verbally bet a different amount or fired the entire 25,000. Watson check-raised to 51,000, and Quoss tanked for a bit before moving all in for around 200,000. Watson called.

Watson had flopped middle set with the {8-Hearts}{8-Spades} — the second time he has flopped a set of eights today that we have witnessed. Quoss had him beat, though, with the {10-Hearts}{6-Hearts} for a flopped ten-high straight.

The turn was the {10-Spades}, keeping Quoss in front with his straight. The river delivered a card in favor of Watson, though, when the dealer finished off the board with the {7-Spades}. Watson had more chips than Quoss, meaning Quoss was eliminated.

After being eliminated, Quoss sought out the tournament director and asked if he had to re-enter right away or if he could wait. Quoss was informed he could re-enter anytime up until the start of play on Day 2, and then he left the building. We'll let you know if he returns.

Watson moved to 610,000 in chips, and has had some success in big events like this one before. At the 2012 World Series of Poker Europe, Watson won the €50,000 Majestic High Roller for €1,000,000. Prior to that, he took third in the €50,000 Super High Roller at EPT Barcelona that Dan Smith won to kick off this season. For that finish, Watson scored €399,500.

Player Chips Progress
Mike Watson ca
Mike Watson
EPT 2X Winner
610,000 228,000
Fabian Quoss de
Fabian Quoss
Busted

Tags: Dan SmithFabian QuossMichael WatsonMike Watson

Level: 4

Blinds: 1,000/2,000

Ante: 300